Hawthorne Derby 2013 Contenders | OFF TRACK BETTING

Las Vegas, NV – Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois will play host to the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby this Saturday, October 5. A purse of $200,000 will be on the line for a group of three year olds willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Hawthorne Park’s dirt track.

The Hawthorne Derby has attracted a large field of 10 three year olds to go in race 5 on Hawthorne’s Saturday schedule Post time is 7:04 PM. Let’s take a look into the past performances of all 10 combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

Charming Kitten – Todd Pletcher colt was third in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes just ahead of Rydilluc at Hawthorne Race Course April 13 after a good second in the Grade 2 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream March 3 and a nice win in the minor Kitten’s Joy Stakes January 20. He raced to a ninth in the Kentucky Derby and was second in the competitive Penn Mile Stakes June 1. He followed that with another good second – in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby behind only War Dancer and ahead of Rydilluc at Colonial Downs July 13. He was fourth last time out behind Notacatbutallama in the competitive Grade 3 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga August 9. Charming Kitten has been competitive in every career start, is the 7-2 favorite this Saturday and lines out from the far outside post Saturday.

Five Iron – Impressive Brian Lynch trained colt won two straight stakes races at Woodbine this summer – the Victoria Park Stakes and the Toronto Cup Stakes before a terrific, career defining win last time out in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes September 1 at Saratoga. He has four wins, two seconds and a third place finish in 11 career starts – three of his four wins coming in his last three starts overall. He has been simply sensational lately and is expected to seriously challenge this weekend. He goes off as the 4-1 second choice from post 8 and is expected to bring the pace to the Hawthorne Derby.

Infinite Magic – raced to two wins and two seconds in five starts on synthetic in England before debuting in North America April 14 where he won an Allowance by a head at Hawthorne Race Course. He made his graded staked debut and finished a disappointing ninth in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park May 11 and followed that with a sixth in the Grade 3 Hill Prince. Last time was a good second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby after a statement win in the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park July 13 at 12-1 odds. He has been very good the last 2 1/2 months and is expected to be near the top Saturday. He leaves from post 4 as the third choice on the morning line at 5-1 odds.

Moro Tap – Michael Maker trained colt has three wins, a second and two third place finishes in nine career starts but has just one career graded stakes start – a sixth in the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park July 13. Before that was a respectable third in the minor Centaur Stakes at Indiana Downs and an Allowance score. Last time out was a win in an Allowance at Kentucky Downs September 18. He is listed at 6-1 odds on the morning line and will line up in post 7.

Kid Dreams – Neil Drysdale trained colt raced in graded stakes company for the first time last time out and finished a respectable fourth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby but before that had one of his two career wins – an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar August 18. He raced two minor stakes races at Woodbine this summer – a fifth in the Plate Trial Stakes was followed by a good third in the Charlie Bailey Stakes in July – the only other times he’s stepped up in competition. Kid Dreams starts from the rail at 6-1 odds Saturday.

Hawthorne Derby betting at Hawthorne Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Dorsett – has won three of 10 starts but has posted victory in two of his last four overall -in the minor Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park and an Allowance at Arlington Park in June. Last time out was a sixth in the second of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby races run September 1. He has run two other graded stakes races this summer finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Arlington Classic and fifth July 13 in the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park. He has been good against lesser competition and just OK against the higher levels. Dorsett lines up in the 3-hole and goes off at 8-1 odds.

Mongolian Saturday – has eight starts this year with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He finished an OK third in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby July 27 for arguably his best career result after a ninth in the Grade 3 American Derby. He has raced three straight minor stakes in the leadup to this weekend with two seconds – wins last time out in the Researcher and August 17 in the Straight Lines Stakes with a fifth in the Presque Isle Mile sandwiched in there. Mongolian Saturday is listed at 10-1 odds and departs from post 2.

Lukes Alley – has just three career starts for trainer Josie Carroll – a fifth in a MSW in his debut was followed by two wins – an Allowance last time out September 7 and a MSW score August 5 – all results at Woodbine. Lukes Alley leaves from post 5 at 12-1 odds Saturday.

Ultimo Trago – has a staggering 15 career starts already with four wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He enters the Hawthorne Derby in his best career form – three straight Allowance scores at Presque Isle Downs ahead of this race. He has finished no better than fourth in any one of his stakes races run so far and in his only graded stakes action was fourth in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity September 8, 2012. Ultimo Trago is the co-longest shot in the field at 15-1 odds and departs from the six hole.

Always Curious – is coming off a third place finish in his stakes debut – the minor Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park August 17 after two MSW starts produced a win July 13 and a third place finish in his debut May 27. He goes off at 15-1 odds Saturday from post 9.

Race 5 on Hawthorne Race Course’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 7:04 PM.